ULTRASOUND

ULTRASOUND

Diagnostic ultrasound (also called “USG” or “ultrasound”) is available at Delhi. It is a non-invasive diagnostic technique used to image inside the body. Most diagnostic ultrasound probes are placed on the skin. However, to optimize image quality, probes may be placed inside the body via the gastrointestinal tract (Transrectal ultrasound, abbreviated as “TRUS”), vagina (Transvaginal scan, abbreviated as “TVS”), or blood vessels (also called Doppler ultrasound, also called “Doppler”).¹ Level II ultrasounds are typically scheduled during the second trimester and are conducted just like a normal ultrasound.²

Various chronic liver diseases such as hepatitis B, C, and fatty liver disease can lead to tissue damage and subsequent scar tissue formation. As the scar tissue accumulates, the liver loses some of its elasticity and becomes stiffer.³ Many clinical guidelines recommend the use of noninvasive tests for the detection and staging of liver fibrosis. The use of shear-wave elastography (SWE) (also called “elastography”) is available at the Delhi and Noida facilities. The noninvasive assessment of liver fibrosis has grown rapidly.⁴

References:

1. https://www.nibib.nih.gov/science-education/science-topics/ultrasound (accessed on 11/19/22)
2. https://www.northwell.edu/obstetrics-and-gynecology/treatments/level-ii-ultrasound (accessed on 11/19/2022)
3. https://www.uofmhealth.org/conditions-treatments/digestive-and-liver-health/liver-elastography (accessed on 11/19/2022)
4. Barr RG, Ferraioli G, Palmeri ML, Goodman ZD, Garcia-Tsao G, Rubin J, Garra B, Myers RP, Wilson SR, Rubens D, Levine D. Elastography Assessment of Liver Fibrosis: Society of Radiologists in Ultrasound Consensus Conference Statement. Radiology. 2015 Sep;276(3):845-61. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2015150619. Epub 2015 Jun 16. PMID: 26079489.